Fewer Churchgoers in Brandenburg and Berlin

, and Administrator

2025 December 21 . 12:56 PM

1 min read

There are persons in different color dresses. Some of them are holding placards. On the right side,... — There are persons in different color dresses. Some of them are holding placards. On the right side, there is an iron fence. In the background, there is a building which is having glass windows, there is a light, there is a hoarding and there is a Christmas tree.

Fewer Churchgoers in Brandenburg and Berlin - Fewer Churchgoers in Brandenburg and Berlin

The Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia (EKBO) has seen a steady drop in membership over recent years. At the close of 2024, its numbers fell to around 775,000—a further decline of roughly 20,000 from the previous year. Despite this trend, Christmas Eve services in 2024 drew over 300,000 attendees, suggesting a return to pre-pandemic levels.

In 2023, the EKBO still counted 1,095,034 members. But by the end of 2024, that figure had shrunk significantly. The church has faced a long-term decline in both membership and regular attendance across Berlin and Brandenburg.

Christmas Eve services, however, tell a slightly different story. Attendance in 2024 reached around 306,000 people. This marks a recovery from 2021, when COVID-19 restrictions limited gatherings to approximately 273,000 worshippers. The numbers now appear stable, matching levels seen before the pandemic disrupted large gatherings.

The EKBO’s membership continues to fall, dropping below 800,000 for the first time in recent years. Yet Christmas Eve services have regained their earlier popularity, with attendance holding firm. This contrast highlights shifting patterns in how people engage with the church.